Meet AYSER SALMAN

We had the good fortune of connecting with AYSER SALMAN and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi AYSER, how do you think about risk?
As an immigrant born overseas to parents who fled Iraq for a better life, the concept of taking risks was instilled in me from an early age. Immigrants love famous quotes and parables, and my family was no different. “No change without change” constantly echoed in my mind, informing my views on risk-taking.

Because we moved frequently during my youth, I began categorizing my life based on where we lived. These days we call them “Eras,” so I suppose that’s what I had. In high school, I had my “Rock star” era where I practiced guitar and singing. Yes I actually thought I could be a rock star. Maybe let’s not count this era as realistic. Though my parents did say as long as I went to college, I could do whatever I wanted. In college, it was my Christiane Amanpour Era, where I majoring in Journalism and later worked as a news producer. Then came my Independent Film Era, where I came to film school in Los Angeles to make films about people like me. Shortly after, I received the opportunity for a lucrative editing job that lasted 17 years. My Professional Editor Era. Midway through, I recognized that while I loved sharing others’ stories, it was time to tell my own. Yet abandoning a well-paying position seemed imprudent—those golden handcuffs were tight. In 2017, the decision was made for me when the head of my company faced misconduct accusations, eventually leading to the company’s closure. Though not a risk I actively chose, I opted against pursuing another steady job and instead went into my Freelance Era. Working part-time gave me space to write, ultimately completing my first book, “The Wrong End of the Table.” This experience confirmed the value of taking risks, even when unplanned. The results validated my choices—I’d created a book that connected with readers, fulfilling my deeper purpose.

Now, when feeling stagnant, I assess what needs changing. This doesn’t come naturally to me. While I embrace change in theory, I dislike the actual concept of change and tend to gravitate toward comfort. However, when faced with crossroads, I’m fairly adept at seizing opportunities.

Looking back, I’m proud of my growing ability to answer the “what if?” call. In my 20s and 30s, I played it relatively safe. Now I embrace risks with the mantra “Let’s see what happens.” It doesn’t always work out 100% in my favor, but this mindset definitely takes me in a direction that leads to more enrichment.

My current era? Maybe something like Built by Eras Past—taking a cue from my own journey, I’ve found that everything is a story and everyone has a story to tell. My aim is to help tell those stories.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been fascinated by stories and understanding what drives people.

This curiosity likely stemmed from my experience as a first-generation immigrant trying to fit in. I was shy and didn’t speak English when I first came to this country at 5 years old. When I did learn, I had to go to speech therapy to learn how to properly pronounce my ‘R’s.

As I grew up, I often found myself on the sidelines, observing how my classmates confidently performed in school plays or excelled at sports while I was consistently chosen last. I protected myself by watching and learning, believing that someday I’d be the one in the spotlight on stage or chosen first for teams.
In hindsight, I realize I was never meant to shine in those particular ways. I assumed that’s what success looked like because those were the people who received attention. What I truly enjoyed was documenting those in the spotlight and enhancing their performances through thoughtful editing and compelling music.
I began by creating ‘music videos’ with my VHS camera and editing them on the school’s reel-to-reel machine—this was before digital editing existed. Documentaries particularly captivated me because they allowed stories to emerge through the editing process.

Growing up in Kentucky, however, I wasn’t sure how to transform this passion into a career. I pursued journalism school and worked as a news producer, but the only aspects of my job I truly enjoyed were feature stories about local artists where I could spend time with them and authentically tell their stories. This realization led me to film school. Young and ambitious, I expected an immediate three-picture deal, but while waiting for that opportunity, I had a valuable skill to fall back on—editing.

I answered an ad for a company seeking an editor to cut reels together. The company was Miramax, during the height of the DVD revolution when studios were creating “added value content” for their releases—director’s commentaries, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and other supplemental materials. It was a fruitful time with more content than people to work on it, and I found myself in the perfect position. I was creating mini-movies, loving the work, and being paid very well. So I stayed. And stayed.

About seven years in, I realized that while I enjoyed my work, I hadn’t come to Los Angeles to promote others’ work—I came to tell my own stories. I began writing while still at the company, eventually leaving when Miramax became The Weinstein Company. In 2017, the owner was accused of misconduct, and the company was later dissolved.

Going freelance was both liberating and scary. This independence allowed me to write what became my first book—a comic memoir about my experiences growing up Iraqi Muslim in the American South. I also took on some of the most enriching work of my career as a producer/editor for documentary series on shows like POSE and SHOGUN, both of which focused on authenticity and diversity while spotlighting underrepresented groups.

This work resonated deeply with my personal journey. It further crystallized my understanding that each group and culture has its own particular set of customs and rules, and through this specificity comes a universality. We may be different, but we are unified in how distinctly individual our traditions and customs are.
Touring with my book, “The Wrong End of the Table” gave me a chance to interact directly with readers—a first in my career. Working for studios, your work passes through layers of revisions and notes. With a book, while you receive editorial feedback, it’s from one person, and once written, it’s complete. Then it’s just you promoting it.

I discovered something unexpected – that while I wrote this book because it was one I wished existed when I was young, my readers weren’t only people like me. They were older middle-aged white men with daughters, and women from outside the MENA/SWANA region who connected with different aspects of my story. I realized that by speaking my personal truth, I could connect with people on a deeper level. As a child, I looked outward, observing others and trying to mirror them; now I share my own experience, allowing it to potentially reflect others’. It’s a neat little full-circle journey I couldn’t have anticipated when I was a scared little immigrant child struggling with pronunciation. This brings me to why I teach writing classes and workshops—I want to help new writers find their authentic voices so they too can tell stories that are true to themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day One: South Bay Beach Tour

Morning: Start in El Segundo, my first LA neighborhood from 30 years ago. Grab a Purple Palmer Iced Tea at Blue Butterfly Coffee before walking down Grand Street to the beach. This hidden gem is less crowded than Manhattan Beach and perfect for collecting sea glass.

Lunch is at Jame in El Segundo for the incredibly fresh and delicious Italian cuisine.

Evening: Drive south to Palos Verdes Cliffs for breathtaking panoramic views. On clear days, you can see all the way to Malibu and Catalina Island. As a former portrait photographer, I can tell you these cliffs with their dramatic cloud backdrops are NOT TO BE MISSED!

Nightcap Option: If we’re still energetic, we’ll head east to the charming speakeasy Joliet in Playa Vista.

Day Two: Hollywood Hills & Classic LA

Day two – Hiking in Beachwood Canyon, another of my former neighborhoods. We’d grab a Breve at the Beachwood Cafe and go for a hike up to the Hollywood Sign. I know all the trail shortcuts, but don’t ask me to tell you right now, I’d have to actually be on the trail to navigate.
Probably drive down to Larchmont Blvd and walk around the shops there – like Chevalier Books, and the Scent Room. And afterwards we’d grab lunch at Great White.

By now I think we are exhausted from hiking so maybe it’s time for a movie. And how about the historic Chinese Theatre. And then afterwards you can check out all the handprints outside the theatre. Next door, Hollywood and Highland is touristy but so what? It’s fun!

More Must-See Attractions:

Academy Motion Picture Museum: My favorite museum in LA! Interactive exhibits immerse you in film history, and the rooftop offers stunning city views.

Hollywood Bowl: Catch a show or visit during daytime rehearsals. Even just climbing the iconic stairs is an experience.

Disney Concert Hall: Worth visiting for its world-class acoustics and striking architecture.

The Broad Museum, Huntington Gardens, LACMA.

Some of my favorite eateries.

Shintaro: Fantastic sushi especially the Tuna on Crispy Rice
Zaytinia (by José Andrés): A delicious splurge worth every penny
Mashti Malone’s Ice Cream: For the rosewater faluda
Casa Cordoba (Montrose): Excellent tapas—sit at the bar for personalized service and recommendations
Laurel Tavern (Studio City): Perfect for a burger on the patio on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
Genghis Cohen is an LA landmark with good food and drinks and a cozy vibe.
Musso and Franks, historic and delicious.
The Butcher’s Daughter has a lovely vibe and great food. As does Gracias Madre.
Convii in Mid Town for the best breakfast burrito.
And the best falafel and shawarma I’ve had is found in Anaheim at a place called Sababa. It’s legit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
You know, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to cross paths with so many people who’ve helped me along my journey. It hasn’t been just one person, but rather a series of meaningful connections that opened doors from one opportunity to the next.

But if I had to name someone who truly launched my career to another level, it would be my mentor Lowell Mate.

Back when I was just an aspiring writer taking general meetings around town, my stories centered around my hilarious but very up-in-my-business family and growing up Muslim in the American South. Lowell suggested I compile these anecdotal stories, self-publish them as a book of essays, and bring them to meetings as my own material.

That suggestion sparked something, and I began writing what eventually became my comic memoir, “The Wrong End of the Table.” I was fortunate when an agent took interest and connected me with a publisher. This was 2016, right as Trump’s first campaign was gaining momentum, and suddenly people were genuinely interested in hearing from immigrant women like me. What was particularly gratifying was that they valued my perspective even though my story wasn’t filled with tragedy or what I sometimes jokingly refer to as “trauma porn.”

Prior to this, I had never even considered writing a book, let alone something called a memoir. Who was I to write a memoir? But this whole experience of sharing my truth and presenting it with comedy resonated with so many people. And the experience of writing a book was such a positive one that I’m now working on my next project—this time, a fiction book for middle-grade readers.

Website: https://www.aysersalman.com

Instagram: @aysersalman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayser-salman-filmmaker/

Other: https://vimeo.com/aysersalman